Look out! It’s the New CUBs

With a new ” Spirit of Altruism ” as our more optimistic PACE buzzword for 2016 ( that’s out with the old APATHY and in with the positive doing good for others and not just for yourself) time to see if the positive influence of Cultire Club in Spires , can work for a new generation of SPIRES youth performers.

Culture is a funny word , off putting for some , weird for others.

What is it about “it” that makes some ” sprint a PACE mile ” and others come-a-running arms open , eyes wide open .

It’s all about your horizons really. How blinkered they are.

Thinking of a horse race , where blinkered horses run straight ahead to their finish line so as not to be distracted.

Yet we need distraction in PACE , in spires work certainly , we definitely want the unusual , the more creative sideways moves , the less obvious way ahead. That’s what makes it more engaging – fun I suppose , if fun wasnt such a ” wee” word.

Broadening your horizons will definitely make you a better performer. Why? Because you stop going round the same circle of delivery . New things you know make you open up more , make you feel more creatively intelligent . The stage is about being clever , always looking for more ways to entertain , more mind doors to open to your creative imagination

How does culture play its part ?

Theatre trips are the start

Seeing all sorts of unusual performances – not just theatre shows

Watching TV and film recommendations

Reading a play – just because…

Seeing what’s on in your local arts centre , local museum , local big city centre

What’s coming to change your life – for good

I think the sooner you start here with the “culture” stuff , the better chance you have of “getting it all ” later . When you need to pull out the bigger more focused performances to make PACE more worthwhile now from S4-6. Remember there are only projects available for those asked into 15UP unless you are lucky enough to be part of HUB or SPACE

And maybe by s3/4.its almost too late for some . When FB and Instagram and Tumblir have taken hold of your time and vision – hard to switch off from these devices without a greater passion for the Arts.

Hard , but not impossible , if the will to change is really there.

Sometimes we just need a wake up call , a gentle reminder that school is fleeting and what we do there matters so much for our greater future.

SPIRES THEATRE is a school in no less a way. And you can chose to muck around , not really work , or do the extra stuff , the clubs , the activities – if you don’t want to .

It’s just that eventually you’ll fall behind and will exit before your time , a bit like Christmas leavers , those who don’t see the point of it any more.

Culture here is the A PASS mentality , but also the want to do really well, to get the whole school experience , the memories that last a lifetime.

So here’s what I want to do for some of you that are ready for more.

I’m stating CULTURE CUBS – yes it sounds cute , but it’s not …its just a way of differentiating those who are starting their culture life journey form those that are now a real part of its ethos.

A cub is young in terms of its experience of the world. And so a culture cub member is young simply in experience of the broader arts world.

Everything to be proud of belonging to, nothing to be embarrassed about.

Culture Club let’s those that like interaction with others on a creative level , outwith the normal group chat forum , take place.

We perfpemance workshop things , we debate , we just like being more cultured …it makes us feel good.

The last culture club session before Christmas , we had a continental brunch and reworking of the Turner Prize , we ran round spires being and sounding , a little mad ….but a lot of fun.

Next session for The Culture Vultures, sees a guest actress coming to enlighten us all , on the topic of ” a more accessible theatre ” as we culturally challenge the notion of a seperate ” able ” and ” disabled ” theatre and arts scene.

We will be looking at the work of companies such as

GRAEAE
Birds of Paradse
Wolfgang Stange and Amici Dance Theatre

Things you probably won’t have heard of but things that could change their opinions of what drama is forever.

I want Culture Cub’s induction meeting to be as engaging and so as a different cultural start , we will be looking at The varied concept of Performance Art ( the theme of Part 1 of the VX1 Challenge ) and accompanying it with a theatre trip to the show below

Bird , is a performance theatre piece aimed at young people but equally as enjoyable for any age , with a more open mind.

Sita Pieraccini , the solo actress in the show is a former Spires Allumni , her picture used to shine down on you in the Foyer of Spirss , a young girl then appearing as the Indian storyteller in Lords of Creation. She was one of those young performers who just shone in everything she did and I’m sure this performance will be no different

We’ll see Bird at the Paisley Arts Centre on the 18th February , details to follow.

Culture Cubs will take place on Sunday 7th February . Once we have enough interest we’ll email those invited to become its pioneer members.

Each Culture Cub meet up , will cost £3 a session ( the ticket price for BIRD will be extra ) we normally meet every 6 weeks or so.

If you are interested in now dipping your toe into the cultural world of behind the scene Spires , contact Colleen ( colleen@pacetheatre.co.uk )

There’s no age or experience level required , just an honest hunger to learn, to open your eyes and minds.

Don’t think it’s a way of getting things ( project wise ) – it’s not, but it will make a difference to the way you perform , somewhere down the line.

If anything it might help you connect with people you never thought you’d mix with before , on a whole other level than your average ” social group chat ” .

Details of the first Culture Cub will be sent to you once we know the group.

Hope to give some of you a leg up, up and “culturally away” soon

Stratford’s a start. WENDY and PETER will hopefully give you a taste for stretching those theatre wings a little further afield.

I love the idea of culture Cubs. It's something that I would love to be apart of. Culture is something that Scares me a bit but hopefully this will help me become more confident with culture. I'm really disappointed that I can't go to Stratford but I'm going to London that weekend so hopefully I will learn a few things there.
Daniel

The idea of Culture Cubs really excites me because it is something that I would love to be a part of and see how it can change me as a performer and as a person. Culture is something that at first was a daunting prospect to me but now I like the idea of it and I've been trying to get more into it. I started watching a French tv drama (after asking for some culture advice from someone who knows it very well) and although it is hard to follow I'm enjoying it and I feel like it will help me in more than just drama as it will broaden my knowledge of the French language. I will be sure to email Colleen and let her know if I will attend but it is very likely that I will!
-Lucy x

The idea of Culture Cubs really excites me because it is something that I would love to be a part of and see how it can change me as a performer and as a person. Culture is something that at first was a daunting prospect to me but now I like the idea of it and I've been trying to get more into it. I started watching a French tv drama (after asking for some culture advice from someone who knows it very well) and although it is hard to follow I'm enjoying it and I feel like it will help me in more than just drama as it will broaden my knowledge of the French language. I am very disappointed that I can't make it to Startford but I have some other family things on around that time. I will be sure to email Colleen and let her know if I will attend but it is very likely that I will!
-Lucy x

Culture has always been a strange one for me. Could never really get my head round it when I was younger. No one around me, except a few family members, had any want to know more about culture. I just sheepishly followed along with the crowd and took no interest. Now I realise, I want to learn. Want to gain more knowledge. Ever since I found a love for drama two or three years ago, I slightly took an interest but still held back. Still was scared to go deep in to the cultural world, explore things I would never dream of. As I stuck to the same stuff, I started to lose interest and enthusiasm over my very little cultural exploration. Maybe it was APATHY kicking in. New year, new start. As you said, leaving apathy in 2015. I want to dive into the unknown, be confused, but then learn. I don't see what is stopping me. I want to know more. Culture Cubs I think would be perfect for me at this point. So dissapointed that I cannot make it to Stratford as I am going on another trip abroad. You never know, I could explore what culture Spain has to offer.
Will defintely see if I can attend Culture Cubs.
Scott

Culture club so far has been so amazing. It's been something so different from anything I have been apart of before. I have made small contributions to each culture club in fear of not being as cultured as others, however from this day forward I want to just dive in- no more unneccesary chit chat from me. The only way I can 'dive in' and have a say is if I truly do explore new things and learn from them. From that I will develop an opinion. An opinion worth being heard and not something that is a copy of someone else's words.
Culture Cubs sounds amazing!! I love the idea. Bird also looks very good- I'm excited to see how they use clowning and mime:)
Neve X

Culture Cub sounds amazing and I would love to be a part of it! I have always tried to find something to give me a real boost in drama and I think that culture is the way forward. Over Christmas Anna and I have tried to whatch some new and exciting things. My mum can speak French fluently and so has a lot if French DVDs that we have been enjoying my personal favourite is Le Choristes I think it is a great movie. I have also made an effort to get into modern art with things like the turner prize, Tate modern and performing art. I am gutted that assemble won. Bird sounds amazing too!- Ben

I would love to take part in culture club! I think it would give me a chance to try something new and boost my drama and performing! Birds sounds amazing and I am very excited to see Wendy and Peter! I shall email Coleen. Xx

I feel that culture club is like art therapy. You come together with like minded people to share thoughts and feelings on a variety of different things. Then you'll do a workshop or two on something we've been asked to watch/read ect. But when it's finished, you almost feel revitalised and fresh. I can't really describe it but it is honestly so enjoyable, and most of all FUN!! I mean who doesn't love standing on the cold spires stairs singing opera....
Culture Cubs will be so great, as the earlier the better! Can't wait to see who will partake on this adventure!

I find culture so fascinating yet I have very little experience in it! I'd love to be apart of the culture cubs just to widen my knowledge and have it help me on a creative level. I feel my social media has sometimes kept me too occupied to explore culture but I am ready to break away more and become more cultured as I do want to expand knowledge! I like the sound of "bird" too, it seems different to what I would usually be interested in but that makes it more intriguing to me! I like the whole idea of culture cubs and will email Colleen about it as soon as possible! I would definitely love to become more cultured!
Dervla X

Culture is something that I've just recently started to explore more lately and I'm quite disappointed at the fact that I'm just starting to do it because I discovered how interesting and rewarding it can be.It gives you the chance to learn so much more and to really push your mind.After discovering new sorts of culture I like to tell people and when I tell my family they do sound germ really intrested but they just don't respond in a way that makes me think more.So it would be great to hear from people with similar and different opinions to discuss views on certain things.
Cara

Culture is something I was recently scared of and didn't understand. I felt embarrassed as to how uncultured I was after being around others who were far more aware to it. I learned though that you shouldn't be embarrassed it just means we have far more to discover and learn. That sulking about how your uncultured isn't actually going to make you cultured. At first I found it hard to really understand what it was and where to find it. I guess essentially it's just about trying something new. Something more substantial in a way. Something you wouldn't dare look at. I am definitely no culture expert but I'm making an effort and that's what counts. It's also really fun being able to contribute to conversation about different TV shows or movies or plays or ballets or operas or food or music(and so much more). Having an opinion. Knowing what everyone's talking about. I love the idea of culture Cubs. Culture never has an age limit or experience limit. I wish I discovered it sooner. Can't wait for the next culture club meeting I have been checking out the companies online and I absolutely love AMICI. The work they produce is breathtaking by the look of the short clips. I was really interested in 20/20 thought it was an interesting concept and theme matter. Can't wait to hear more about it!
Ruth x

Culture is something I haven't been very knowledgable about but I feel it's time to branch out into other topics and explore what Pace has to offer. Culture Cubs will be a challenge for me but it will help my performance and I will perform differently. Different is always good in my eyes. It's a start of something new. Like the new year. I want to go through this year in pace differently and this Culture Club will be different. You mentioned a few different ways of getting cultured and some of them were... Not what I imagined. For English at our school we read the play 'War Horse' and I never would have tried reading that. But I really enjoyed it and read the One act play called 'Round the World with Class Six' I also sincerely enjoyed it. In March I'm going to go see Shakespeare's ' A Midsummer Nights Dream ' and I'm really looking forward to seeing that. I would love to branch out more and see 'Bird' which (if I go which I will try to) will be a great show. Will email Colleen and hopefully I will see you there.
Max x

This sounds so interesting and exciting.
As I get older I'm am becoming more open minded and learning to maybe read a book that I don't normally go for or watch a tv program that is of a different language. The Bridge was recommended on a previous blog and I love it. However I have no one to discuss it with - no one outside of PACE really understands why I would want to watch a program in a different language. However culture cub sounds like the perfect oppurtunity to go a little deeper. I have little knowledge of culture but culture cub sounds like a way to start becoming more educated on culture so I will definitely be emailing Colleen.

You get " the Bridge " and you are on to a great start , just because something is in a different language doesn't mean it's not great drama - which as you no know , the Bridge is - go team SAGA !
Get emailing Colleen

In the past, I haven't really been interested in culture although people were pushing and pushing for me to get my head around it and just dive right in. This blog has made me excited about culture and wanting to take my performance and everything that comes with it to the next level. This is going to be the year where I finally take off and I'm going to make sure of it, no matter how hard it will be and no matter what I have to go through I'm not backing down.
I was looking up the GRAEAE Theatre Company and noticed that they are doing "The Solid Life of Sugar Water - National Tour 2016". I know that they are not coming to Glasgow and its advised for 18+ but I was wondering if they do plays for a younger audience? if they do, I would love to go see one of them.
I have always loved the thought of disabled theatre, I'm not sure why but I've always thought it to be interesting, now that I'm given the chance to expand my knowledge I have a little buzz in my belly.
I need culture cubs because without culture I'm just going to be going round in circles, I want culture club because I want to get better and I want to have an opinion and show people different sides of my personality and different opinions I may have. I want to prove to myself that I am smart and that I can do what other people can.
Stratford is definitely going to help me and I can't wait to jump right into this new cultural experience.

I would love to get way more involved in the cultural stuff, not just watching or reading things in itself, but getting the opportunity to discuss and share opinions and see other people's perspective and get more engaged in it rather than just being passive about it.
And I'm so excited about going to Stratford, I think it's going to be great :)

Ever since I opened my mind to culture I just can't get enough of it! Through the holidays I watched more culturally open films and programmes, I started to read books that made me use my imagination and I went on cultural trips with some of my family. I finally managed to get to The Gallery of Modern Art and I found myself not wanting to leave! I loved reading all the concepts then trying to work out where the artist was coming from and it really opened my eyes to the world of art. I was never one for art or museums because I had this image in my mind that all it was, was pictures hung around a room that you would just stare at but it just goes to show that if you broaden your mind, just that little bit, something in you could change completely!
I was so annoyed that I couldn't make it to the last Culture Club but from what I've heard so far about the next one I definitely don't want to miss it! I am really interested in disabled theatre and how perfectly able people can play people with disabilities but not the other way round!
Anyway I hope everyone who is going to Stratford enjoys themselves and lets their mind open up to new things! Iona x

The 2013 Romeo and Juliet, I saw it on TV and I absolutely loved it! It is good if you are just starting off because it's in Shakespearean but it includes some up and coming actors and actresses that you might have heard of more frequently than others, plus Stellan Skarsgård makes a few appearances! Another film would be Chocolat, it is a french film but isn't spoken in French so again good for just starting out, it isn't that new but it is one of my favourite movies of all time! There is also loads of Tv Series' on that I have loved or am loving. Like Jekyll and Hyde on itv, you can get it on catch up if you have Sky, I personally thought that some of the monsters in it were just for show but I thought that the actor who played Jekyll and Hyde was just fantastic! I also recommend- Sherlock, Death in Paradise, And Then There Were None and How To Get Away With Murder!
Please let me know your opinions on these, I would love to see what you thought!

I haven't always enjoyed the idea of culture, however I now realise the importance of it and how interesting things can be. I think culture cubs sounds really great and is something id love to be a part of. I think an open mind is always great and culture is something that I am lacking a lot at the moment.
Claire x

This has to be one of the best things I have ever heard of! I struggle to be more 'culturally centred' so to speak, or just finding ways to learn about culture and I think this was to learn is important. I am roaring for the chance to be a part of this just to broaden my mind and in the end of the day make me a better performer.